Motorists reminded to stop at red flashing lights 03-01-02

Big Island police are reminding motorists to come to a complete stop at a flashing red light signal.

Sergeant Randy Apele of the Traffic Services Section said that according to Section 291C-34 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, whenever a flashing red signal is displayed at a traffic light, motorists must stop at a clearly marked stop line. If there is no stop line, they must stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no crosswalk, they must stop at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic.

Apele said that flashing red light signals sometimes occur because of power outages or traffic collisions into utility poles.

“We ask that motorists use caution when seeing the flashing red light,” Apele said. “Stop completely before continuing in traffic. Failing to do so is a moving violation.”